Do you remember when you were new?
Do you remember the first time you created a character and had to PM an OP for a voice in the OOC?
Do you?
Do you remember how confusing things were?
Do you remember how many questions you had?
Do you remember who your first RP partner was? the room you RP'd in?
Do you remember how hard it was to find some RP?
Do you?
Do you remember the person(s) who helped you initially?
Do you remember your first impression with this game world?
I ask all this because I noticed a new player who was struggling in the OOC the last week.
Seemed like they couldn't do anything right.
Everyone was coming down on them.
Have we gotten so big in our britches that we can't be kind anymore? That we can't take a moment and give links and
explain things to this person(s) in a friendly manner?
I watched for a whole hour in the OOC. A whole hour.. and it just seemed no one was helping this person grasp 'things' -
in fact, folks were getting down right annoyed with them.
When we don't understand things.. someone always helps us. That's how we are. We are a great community.
What's happening now? Why wasn't this person pulled to the side?
I did PM this person after that whole hour. I was embarrassed.
Where is the kindness? Why are we not friendly to newcomers anymore?
Fresh meat is always a blessing here in our world. Some stay. Some go. Some are assets. Some are real great pains in the asses, for sure.
The game mechs here are so heavily layered.. relationships and status - so much to grasp and it takes time.
It's not something that will be learned in a matter of days or weeks.
Frustrations are real; on your part and on the newb.
Be kind.
Teach.
Coach.
Lead by example OOC'ly.