This is just something I noticed popping up again recently. It's happened before so it's nothing new. I just wanted to say one quick thing about all this adoption stuff. Call me a lecturer if you like but I just don't think some people realize this.

Everyone's back to the bam I want a noob, I need more noobs, be my noob thing. It's like having a noob is becoming a status thing.

The adopt a noob program was started to get people who don't know what to do help. It's a helping thing not a status thing.

Also I've talked to quite a few people who are a little put off because so many people jump to say I want to adopt you, before they even say hi.

Basically what I wanted to get through with this is.....adoption is for help, not status. If you get a noob please make sure you can help them and be a good adopter, not just adopt them to add them in your sig. And lastly, maybe we should work on saying hi first, and making new people feel welcome, before we jump on the I want to adopt you bandwagon. Unless of course they full out announce....I'm new someone adopt me!

I'd like to second lo's comments here... adoptin a n00b is all about helpin people to get settled an happy here, not about some grab fer perceived glory (like post count). It's not a competition an we shouldn't be makin new people feel like pawns in some game.

By all means be keen to adopt, but be sure ya can afford the time to do it, cos it's not all fun an games!

As an aside to all new bods... dun feel under any pressure to be adopted either. There's plenty o people here who are happy to help regardless - meself included - so if ya ever get stuck, there's always someone to help

Echoing Lo's concerns as well here...

Come on, guys, it's supposed to be a family around here, and this kind of behaviour does not encourage a friendly atmosphere.

You can't just run around adopting n00bs and then neglecting them. Nor should you ben treating these new forumites as possessions you can add to your signature.

In short, it's just plain rude.

Common sense and common courtesy, people. Keep it in mind.

I would actually like to stand up and agree with that. It does seem to be that way, and I'll admit with my first n00b that's EXACTLY what I did. Nevermind the fact I was quasi n00b-ish at the time anyway. This time, however, I simply noticed the new person here hadn't introduced themselves yet, so I spoke with them and helped them out. They were unaware of adoption and all it entailed so I guess I proactively worked on that one. But ANYWAYS, yes you guys are very right and I for one apologize for having done that in the past.

I'm pretty confident i've managed to insert myself...

With a little help from WeeJ, but she's just good like that.

This wasn't meant to point any fingers, just hopefully make the noob adoption thing not to get too out of hand, like it seemed to be.

It happened in the past, people competed to get the most noobs, to get noobs first, there were even a few noob thefts. I personally don't mind the noob theft thing all that much because if the "noob" decides they would be better suited with someone else, then more power to them. As long as the help is given that's what matters.

I would say maybe a good rule of thumb is to not have more than 2 noobs at a time. The time it takes to set someone up and help them, varies, but sometimes it can take a lot of time, so hopefully that way the adopter doesn't get too overwhelmed, and that way other people who want to help new people out can too.

However the only true rule to noob adopting seems to be you can't adopt til you're not a noob anymore yourself which is what, a hundred posts?

Like Missy said

I don't ever have noobs... but if anyone who sees this is new around here and has any questions or anything, you can just ask, and if I can, I'd be more than happy to help you If I can't help, I probably know somebody who can.... hehe And then we could both learn something new lol

well....

a) You're more than computer efficient and

b ) You now me in rl anyway.

saying that, i'm happy to help when asked

i agree....and altho ive done it befor i see your point

I gotta say I'm with you on everything posted in this thread. I remember when I first got to these forums, two people offered to adopt me within the first half-hour of my first post (though I never expressed an interest in it before receiving those offers), and at least one seemed so desperate to adopt me that I felt guilty saying no, even though I felt I didn't need any help anyway (I've been on dozens of forums before and know my way around).

I've never really been interested in formally adopting noobs myself, as there seems to be plenty of folk around here jumping at the chance to do it anyway. (I'm not interested in adding stuff to my sig anyway. ) If any noobs happen to read this, though, I'd be very happy to help in any way possible (even if it has nothing to do with the forums, such as trying to figure out how to install or uninstall a certain program). Just Private Message me with any requests for help or something.

I've had two n00bs since joining Matazone...one of them I've adopted today. I can't be bothered to put it in my signature as its boring for others to read. I've offered to adopt because I like to help out
Hinsley adopted me when I first joined...she looked after me and helped me out loads but didn't make a hooge deal out of it which is nice

yeah i completely agree w/ ya there lo. i never PM someone to say "hey, i'll adopt ya if you want" unless they specifically state that they want to be adopted. well no i didn't do that w/ my very first noob...but she had a cool name so i really wanted to adopt her...lol. even though she knows her way around a forum just fine without my help.

my problem is...a lot of my noobs either run off or can't get on the computer much so lol w/in a couple weeks...i'm pretty much noobless again. only a couple of them have graduated....but after a certain amount of time goes by and my latest noob hasn't posted...i begin hunting for a new one again.

i don't think anyone should adopt a noob as a status thing. you should do it because you have the time and desire to help someone who needs it.

and also...very important...you have the ABILITY to help them. you should know how to change text, get an avatar, all those sorts of lovely things. i've noticed a couple of people who i think honestly don't know their way around here well enough to have a noob, yet they do (like lo though, i don't want to point any fingers...it's just a general statement).

also..maybe it's just me...but i think as a rule the waiting till you get 100 posts to get a noob is a good idea. if you have hung around long enough to get that much, you should know your way around well enough to help someone else. well, provided you actually put thought into your posts and didn't just put one-line responses to everything and spammed your way to 100........

This thread has now been linked from the first post in the pinned Adoptions thread. It'd be nice if people took note...

Yeah, I agree.. I've never really adopted n00bs for status... If they seem to want help, I help them and adopt them... although half the time now, I feel useless cuz they don't ask me questions anymore, they figure everything out on their own v.v

i only adopt after i get to know the person a little bit and if i like them. (and if they like me)

{gothic angel} is my first n00b for ages!!!

and i love her muchly-o!

Well so far I haven't had droves of adopters..I'm pretty much wandering around posting like a maniac

LOL

you know thats probably because in your intro thread you said you wanted either crissi or myself to adopt you

Shoot I wonder if I just smeared eye makeup all over my face.

Anyways I was just giving this subject a little bumpage, because yeah I think it's a good subject and needs to be bumped every once and awhile.

Queenie is your n00b right?

Don't be so hard on her. Her parents are really strict and hardly let her online. Doesn't mean she's not enthusiastic about matazone. She goes on and on about the UK mata meet whenever I see her in RL.
she tries to get on as much as she can though

Yeah, Queenie was one of my noobs. She graduated though. I know she gets on as much as she can, and she's honestly one of my favorite noobs I've had...she's very sweet.

I'd like to get a new noob, but by the time I get in here to welcome new people who want/need to be adopted, a million people have already pounced on them. =/

I'm just thinking this thread might need a little bump.

im guessing this is sum what about my coment when wolfie signed up...welll, i did want a n00b, but i know wolfie in real life, so she agreed to it... and she wanted my help.... im not trying to find things to add to my status, im just trying to help one of my friends out...umm... soory if im wrong and this has nutthing to do with me

I just think every now and then it needs a little bump is all.

Though I am loath to admit it, I probably need the help...
so unless someone comes out and says
...ADOPT ME...
in so many words...
(count two)

This one's mine. My last n00b opened some bar and he stole my pills.
If you have any questions, feel free to send me a personal message. One more thing, be sure to check THE RULES before you go on some curse off that puts south park to shame.

I have read the rules... thank you for some response, someone ended my conversation with ghosts(look people!)

Good, so you now know the law and you wont be surprised if you get modslapped. Happy Posting!

I WANT TO BE ADOPTED I'LL GIVE YOU A DOLLAR. I'VE GOT A DOLLAR,I'VE
GOT A DOLLAR, I'VE GOT A DOLLAR HEY HEY HEY HEY.

I really think that other people want a noob to adopt more than I do, but I will advise you to lay off the sugar. Someone will come adopt you soon enough.

THANKS FOR THE ADVISE BUT IM NOT TO BIG ON SUGAR BUT I LIKE THE LITTLE RASCALS MOVIE YOU SHOULD SEE IT IF YOU HAVENT.

wanna adopt meeeeeeeeeeeee? I'm VERY new and never done this sort of thing before - honest officer!

I'd be willing to adopt you. I think I've gotten the hang of the ins and outs of how to do things here, and I'm on for a while almost every afternoon if you have questions. What do you say?

Hmmm, not sure if i need adopting, but then i may do. i sometimes go astray and may need a polite push in the right direction. This place does seem to have quite a lot of conventions that i am sure i will find out in time.

am open to being adopted by almost anyone except wyvern (cause that would be wrong) and blackcath (cause i wouldn't trust her to stop me looking foolish)

*baseballbattothehead* *stuffs in trunk* There. All ready to go. Who wants him?

I think this is a suitable time for me to make a temporary return to my station as ceremonial n00b taper. >_>

*pulls out duct tape with an impressive flourish and tapes DarkAngel firmly to the ceiling in one swift motion*

Yay! Welcome to the forums, I trust you're already aware of Cath and her evil, but possibly haven't experienced it when taped to the spot. Mwahahaha.

BlackCath is a sweetie just explosive with it and who says I'd want to adopt you matey!
As for the polite pushing PAh! Polite us polite just wait till the others find you...start running hun.

Ahh too late in which case it shouldn't be too long till you fall off...perhaps.

Ohoho! Fresh meat!

You seem to have the hang of these forum majigs already, so I don't think you really need an adopter. Though I will do so if you really want to be adopted for some reason. I am in no way ever influenced by Cath to be evil. Nope, not me!

You should wander into IRC sometime....then Vic could initiate you properly. He can't do so here...it's not forum appropriate!

I've never had a welcoming thing for noobs like duct tape or explosives. Hmm...what to do?

*gives Darkangel a wedgie for lack of a better idea*

Welcome to the forums.

*bows* teach us anti-cath!